Mixed Media Art Journal Video-"Rush"

A look at part of how I created the mixed media piece entitled "Rush".  I worked primarily in watercolours, but with a bit of pen work and a bit more pencil work to create the details the way that I wanted them.  This piece started off as a way to test my new Letraset AquaMarkers as well as my Peerless Watercolour sets. But as she developed I found myself falling in to a rhythm with her...swooping from one part of her to another.  Feeling the colour rather than forcing it.  Then as I added the chartreuse background (pictured but not in the video - sorry!) I fell in love with her lovely pink 'do and the flow of the ink.  This rhythm is why art has become so meditative for me. What do you do to breathe? Is there something that you do to act as meditation without actually meditation? I would love yo hear about it!

xo

Jen

New Journal Backgrounds

 I just created a couple of art journal backgrounds that I love, so thought that I would share them here.  These feel like I am getting back to a stye that I was missing...like I had forgotten about it and left it behind in the name of every element needing to be mine.  Hand created.  There is something so peaceful about just flowing with images.  Cutting. Pasting.  Breathing. And out of that came a couple of pages that I can't wait to write all over.  That mean something to me.  I hope you enjoy!

xo
Jen

Utterance

"Utterance"           24"x38"

This was an incredible journey to create a commissioned piece for a new client. And oh, what joy to work on this! Jean already knew that she liked my previous piece "Was it Yesterday", but wanted something large to fill a niche wall in her house. When we sat down to go through some ideas, I took notes about all the different things she likes, has experienced, has loved and done. And then I played in layers of goodness with text flowing over the canvas between bursts of spray paint. And "Utterance" was born.  It is always hard to let pieces go, but in this case, there was great joy in it as I knew she was off to be loved.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 xo

Jen

Starlight

 

A whisper in the moonlight. A glimpse in to the future or a breath of the past.

A notion of time passing.

This is Starlight.

24x36

Find her on Etsy!

 

 

 

She has my heart - I hope she finds yours.

xo

Jen

"She Saw Her Past"

I just released a new painting to the world.  It can be viewed and purchased on my Etsy site.  Or just enjoyed here! As a side note....I think it's interesting that I keep wanting to call it "She Saw Her Future"...maybe there's more to her story than I thought...

I love the vintage photos and bits of an old film.

 

 

 

xo

Jen

Fortune 82

FORTUNE

Dreams of paint dripping and pretty girls, 

gold gilding,sparkles and pretty swirls.

Elements of mystery with layers unfolding,

reaching to snare you into beholding

the wonders.

I collect fortunes.  Those tiny slips of paper tucked in to a tasty little bit of cookie.  Over the last few years, I have amassed a substantial collection, knowing that they would become art.  I regularly think about the many ways to work with them and yet, when I sit down to create, they stymy me.  They sit in their bag, taunting me with their messages. Until today.  This one leaped out of the pile and spoke to me. The Fortune series has begun. The dictionary defines Fortune as:

1 often capitalized : a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably

2 obsolete : accident, incident

3 a : prosperity attained partly through luck : success b : luck 1 c plural : the turns and courses of luck accompanying one's progress (as through life) fortunes varied but she never gave up

4: destiny, fate fortune; also : a prediction of fortune

I love all the different elements of this definition. Here is where we begin, at Fortune 82

 

 

 

xo

Jen

 

Symbols

D - "I need to find a new painting for my bathroom. Since I painted it Jalapeno, the old one doesn't go."
Me - "Ok - what are you thinking?"
D - "Oh, something with black in it."
Me - "I'll make you one...."  Forgetting that I have been purely in photography mode for the last month and haven't even picked up a brush.  Tsk tsk tsk.  Turns out that it was just the kick start that I needed.  Here is the piece that evolved over the next 10 hours - so different than what I had originally set out to create.  And I completely love it. That is one of the things that I never get over - the process of creation for me is so organic.  I can't pre-plan something because my process evolves through flow.  And when I sit in that flow and really listen to my muse, wonderful things transpire.  There are so many personal (to him) elements in this that came as sparks of light in the process.  Trust.  Flow.  Joy.

 

 

xoxo

jen

Art Journaling Class

For those of you in the scrapbook world, it's the latest thing! But more importantly than that, it's a journey in to your heart and soul that takes you in to the world of being an artist - even when you didn't think you could be an artist!

I am so excited to announce, that starting November 15th, I will be teaching an Art Journal class at the Scrap Yard! Click on the image below to view it full size - it has all the info on what the class is about.

There are two classes - Mondays at 12:30 or Thursdays at 6:00 pm.

The class is limited to ten students and is generating a LOT of interest. 

 So call the Scrap Yard at 403-271-2225 to sign up and come play with us!

Here are a few of the pages that I have started creating as demos for the class: